| dates: July 23 – August 8 Time in Tokyo: GMT +8 |
| coverage: Watch live broadcasts on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; Listen to BBC 5 Live Radio, Sports Extra and Sounds; Live text and video clips on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Novak Djokovic’s hopes of winning the “Golden Slam” ended after he lost to Alexander Zverev in the Olympic tennis semi-finals.
Serbian world number one Djokovic was trying to become the first man to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
But German Zverev, 24, came from a poor group to win 1-6 6-3 6-1 at Ariake Tennis Court in Tokyo.
The fourth seed will meet Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the final on Sunday.
Khachanov, ranked 25th and 12th in the world, beat Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3 earlier on Friday.
Djokovic, 34, will face Carreno Busta in the bronze medal match on Saturday. His best at the Olympics was the bronze in Beijing 2008
In March, Djokovic appointed Record all weeks in first place This month, he tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 20 Grand Slam titles with his counterpart Sixth Wimbledon crown.
He also won the Australian and French Opens this year.
Stevie Graf is the only player to win all four major slams and an Olympic title in the same year, in 1988.
Asked about embracing Djokovic in the net after his victory, Zverev replied: “I told him he’s the greatest ever, and he will be.
“I know he’s been chasing history, but in these moments, Novak and I are very close.
“I feel sorry for Novak, but he’s won 20 majors, 550 Masters or whatever. You can’t have everything.”
Djokovic did not drop a set in his first four matches in Tokyo and passed the opening set of the semi-finals in 37 minutes before being knocked out in the second half.
But Zverev won 10 consecutive matches to win the second set and take a strong lead in the third, while Djokovic appeared unable to prevent the world number five from wrapping up with three breaks in the deciding set.
Zverev annoys Djokovic to Winning the ATP Finals In London in 2018, he reached the Grand Slam final only once, losing to Dominic Thiem at the US Open last year.
“It’s a great feeling to know you’re going to bring a medal back home,” Zverev said.
“It looked like it was impossible to beat him in this event, so I’m very happy at the moment, but there is still one game to go.”
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